Set on the isolated, eerie island of Brack, the story follows a community that lives by an ancient, terrifying bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to a mythical creature known as the Glimm, which haunts the local salt marshes. Eight years ago, sixteen-year-old Lotta was chosen for the lottery, but the monster miraculously spared her, claiming her beloved pony instead. Now working as the head groom for the ruling Council's sacrificial horses, Lotta keeps her distance from the wary villagers. But as the island begins to die and a mysterious song starts threading through her dreams, she crosses paths with an outcast named Moss. Together, they are forced to question the harsh rules of their society and risk everything to uncover the dark secrets binding their people to the bogs.

​This was such a good read! It was actually the first book I have ever read that is based on folklore, and it had me completely hooked the entire way through. The Glimm is such a cool, fascinating creature, and the isolated island setting is so mysterious and intriguing. You can also really see Rachael’s deep passion for horses shining through the pages, which added such a great layer of authentic detail to the story. I highly recommend picking this one up!

Picking up right where the previous story left off, Getwin, Lea, Buckle, and their one-eyed raven companion, Sharp, are on the run in the city of Wyle. After unearthing the tricky and unpredictable Book of Blacke, the group embarks on a dangerous new quest to completely undo the oppressive controls on their world. They are fighting to seek justice for the enslaved Scribes and to bring the freedom of reading and writing back to the people who have been forbidden from it.

​I absolutely loved this book! It was such a good continuation of book one. The magic system—or "strangeness" continues to be incredibly fun to explore as the world expands and the stakes get higher. Getting to dive deeper into the cast was fantastic, and Miran is definitely my absolute favorite character from the series!

​This is technically YA, but I honestly found it to be such a worthwhile read and would definitely recommend it for older readers too! If you are looking for an imaginative, magic-filled adventure with a great set of charaters, definitely pick this series up.

This book follows Ana Taylor, a tough and efficient ex-pat Kiwi who is currently the stand-in leader of the Bartashev Bratva. When the looming threat of deportation leaves her with very few options to stay in the country, she crosses paths again with August Tombs, the chaotic head of Tombs Security. Desperate times call for desperate measures, leading to a fake marriage proposal that completely flips both of their worlds upside down. Soon, they are forced to navigate their reignited chemistry while trying to keep their loved ones safe from a rival MC, a stalker, and the general danger of their intersecting worlds.

​It was another amazing read by Cleo! I absolutely loved the dynamic between these two characters, and it honestly made me realize just how much I genuinely like the fake marriage trope when it is done well.

​I also really loved that one of our main characters is from New Zealand! It was just so fun being able to naturally understand all her quirks and pick up on those little bits of Kiwi culture woven into the story.